The rich want to mine it.

Argh .....

If they get their way, a few rich guys will be richer and hunters will find their access to land disappearing, as will hikers, birders, rafters, etc.

They are so damned selfish and short-sighted.

it's the pollution and the ravaged land that I'm worried about

IIRC there was at least one hunting organization that expressed strong opposition to the Vanilla ISIS takeover of Malheur NWR.

I personally don't hunt. The stark political reality, though, is that we need all the allies we can get, and some of the hunting and fishing organizations may have credibility with people who would just tune out what environmentalists say.

Of course, it can be an uncomfortable alliance. Some hunters would be quite happy to see all federal lands opened up to sport hunting, which from the point of view of environmentalists would be a disaster.

hunting & fishing licenses, which includes all of their Conservation activities, so yeah... "fuck the hunters". Without them, visitors to our State wouldn't be able to enjoy The Great Smoky Mountains, or MANY other public lands, National Forests, etc.

Our "Annual Resident Combination Hunting/Fishing License" fees were increased $8/year higher this year, from $28/yr to $36/yr.... IIRC, it's only the 3rd increase in 30+ years. *THAT* license is just for fishing and small game hunting.

It doesn't include the $36 "Big Game" Stamp, which is for deer, bear & boar.. and you have to buy a separate one for Archery Season, Muzzleloader Season & Rifle Season. Nor does it include a special permit for Trout fishing, Turkey hunting or Waterfowl hunting.

But yeah, "fuck the hunters".... we only make it possible for EVERYONE ELSE to enjoy the land. Hikers don't have to buy a license to use the land that WE PAY TO hunt and fish on.

Back when I was a teenager, it only cost $8 for a hunting license & $8 for a Big Game Stamp..... but.... the deer were so scarce that season was only open for 2 weeks, and you were only allowed ONE Buck. Now, thanks to restocking the herds with deer from other States, we have an over-population problem in the State, and especially in my County. We have also successfully re-introduced Elk into the State.

You know what the biggest kicker is? You can't just buy a Statewide Fishing Only License. You can buy a One Day fishing license for $6 (trout NOT included) or a "County of Residence Only" fishing license for $11/yr (trout NOT included), but you are limited on the bait that you can use... Natural bait ONLY, which includes worms, crickets and corn, but NOT minnows! The way the Tennessee River, and the lake 5 miles from my house, runs though, if you are in a boat, you can find yourself in another County once you cross the middle of the river, and in certain parts of the lake! About that "biggest kicker" that I mentioned? Even people who aren't allowed to legally own a firearm have to pay for the Combination Hunting/Fishing License to avoid the obstacles mentioned above! I think I have been hunting only 1 or 2 times since 2010, and don't even NEED a license to hunt on my own land, but I buy one anyways because it helps with Conservation, and it's cheaper than buying a 1 day license as much as I fish.

In the future, please think about this before you just dismiss us with your "fuck the hunters" frame of mind.

Peace to you and yours,

Ghost

I'd hate to be on that clean up crew....

these lands. They will end up selling them to private buyers.

After all it will help corporations rape us more. She won't miss beat with that.